Insta360 EVO comparison – 8 cameras compared with SURPRISING results

Below is a video with an image quality comparison of eight VR180 and 360 cameras, including the newly-launched Insta360 EVO (reviewed here).

I compared the EVO to these cameras: – GoPro Fusion (in 5.2K and 5.6K mode). When it launched in 2017, the Fusion had been regarded as having the best video quality among all consumer 360 cameras. With the new 5.6K mode, will it be able to hold on to its crown? – Insta360 One X (in HDR and non-HDR mode). The Insta360 EVO’s stablemate is regarded as being the best overall 360 camera by many reviewers, including myself as of March 2019, due to its excellent image quality and ease of use. – Rylo (in 5.8k mode): The Rylo revolutionized the 360 camera industry with its amazing stabilization. With the new 5.8K mode, can it take the lead in image quality? – Vuze XR: this is a relatively new hybrid VR180 and 360 camera, with 5.7K video resolution and some unique features. – Yi 360 VR: this 5.7K 360 camera had the best video quality in 2017, although it was later surpassed by the Fusion. I included it in this comparison in part because it reportedly shares the same sensor and lens as the yet-to-be-released Yi Horizon VR180 camera. – Kandao Qoocam: this was the first hybrid VR180 and 360 camera to be launched in the market. Although it only has 4K video resolution, Kandao keeps adding new features such as depth mapping. – Lenovo Mirage: this was the first VR180 camera with 4K resolution. It is officially compatible with Google VR180, and uses the .vr.mp4 and .vr.jpg formats which do not require stitching.

For a more detailed analysis and a playlist of the actual samples used for this comparison, please see the main article here. If you’d like to purchase the EVO with a free invisible selfie stick, please use this link. Thanks for supporting 360 Rumors at no additional cost to you so I can do more tests and reviews.

I think that, at this point, the IQ of the Mirage and Qoocam is just to low for them to remain in the arena. They would really need to come up with a V2 model that addresses this and several other issues.

I still very much like the IQ of the Vuze XR and the fact that it has a four-microphone system that sounds way better than the two mikes on the EVO. I expect that the Vuze XR will become more versatile as their app improves and they add manual controls and HDR.

Much is made of the EVO’s 180 stabilization; but that’s so long as one is walking while shooting. I am not convinced that 3D 180 is at its best when the camera is in motion.

For people that are primarily into 360, I do believe that the One X is a better choice than the EVO because the stitch line is much more discreet and things like the “rocket” accessory allow action shooting effects not possible with the EVO.

I’m convinced that the Yi Horizon is dead, even the webpage has been dismantled and left for dead for months now. There was a strange pickup in Dec of a bunch of YouTubers all of a sudden posting new footage from the camera, then nothing. On a separate note, good audio is great, but I’ve yet to see a clip from the Vuze that I thought looked good. I’ve had such high hopes for each of their cameras, pre-ordered two of them, only to cancel after the samples posted. I do like the formfactor of it more than the Evo (which I ordered already).

I personally have seen pretty good footage from the Vuze XR. But it does require good lighting.

As for the Horizon, it was my dream camera as far as the form factor and having a liveview display. But alas, as I posted elsewhere, Yi seems to have changed its focus from photographic products to home security devices.

The sick feeling you experience is due to unstabilized footage. The unique feature of the EVO is that it can stabilize 180 footage. I’ve seen some footage from the EVO while in motion and it was easier to watch. That said, I still am not that fond of motion (even stabilized) with 3D 180 unless it is used very creatively.

Thank you Mic for review! Could you please make VR180 comparison between Evo and Vuze XR? As Francois mentioned only 2 of this cameras are really the closest competitors in VR180 consumer cameras market right now. I’m on the fence which one to buy right now, you’re review could really help

Maybe the best solution is to wait and see what happens over the next few months. The biggest difference between the two cameras is at the firmware level. Human Eyes has been promising, manual controls, HDR and better stabilization in coming updates. If this happens, then the choice will be more a matter of personal preference.

Personally, I feel that, from a design standpoint, the XR is better. It has a built-in handle, metal body and switching from 360 to 180 is instantaneous. But others would say the EVO is smaller and lighter and already has the stabilization and manual controls.

Both of them have serious shortcomings such as a non-removable battery (that doesn’t last very long) and the absence of any display (this means you need a phone to adjust settings). For those reasons, I personally prefer to wait for other 3D 180 cameras to come into the market. This may happen before the end of this year.

Let’s be clear about one thing: 3D 180 and “VR180” are not the same thing. The only VR180-certified cameras that have been released so far are the Zcam K1 and the Lenovo Mirage. All other cameras are 3D 180.

So… what’s the difference between the two ? Well, essentially, both record in 3D over a 180 FOV. But Google’s “VR180” calls for the resulting output to appear as a single 2D image when playing on a computer or phone and only show in 3D when using a headset.

It appears that the more recent producers of 3D 180 cameras have decided to ignore Google’s approach. One reason probably is that, once Google announced the VR180 standard, they did very little to support it. Recent news suggests that Google is giving it another go. But whether they succeed or fail will have no effect on the success of 3D 180 as manufacturers are forging ahead with 3D 180 projects independently of Google’s “VR180” efforts.

Keep in mind that companies like Human Eyes and Insta360 were working on 3D 180 and 3D 360 projects years before Google ever came up with a proposal for “VR180”.

As for Yi, they essentially dropped out of the photography business to focus mainly on home and car security cameras.

I call google vr180 “google vr180”. I use the terms 3d 180 and vr180 interchangeably. Google did not invent the 3d 180 format. Lucidcam used it way before them. As for google vr180 format it seems to be dead. If you watch a google vr180 now, it can be rotated even without going to cardboard mode. So it is functionally identical to other 3d180/vr180. The only benefit is no stitching required but it adds more steps to editing.

“I use the terms 3d 180 and vr180 interchangeably.” It’s true that people were using the term VR 180 way before Google coined it as “their own”. I am surprised they didn’t put an (R) next to it ! 🙂 But I find that, nowadays, when people use the term “VR180” they are invariably linking it to the Google standard. That’s why one hears people say “VR180 is dead because Google abandoned it.”

So what I am trying to say here is that 3D 180 – however you wish to call it – has little to do with Google. But I prefer to use the term 3D 180 because I find most people who hear the term “VR180” that are unfamiliar with it do not immediately associate it with 3D since most VR360 content is actually 2D.

“Google did not invent the 3d 180 format” Of course not. And neither did LucidCam. People were making and using 3D 180 rigs years before that. What Google has done is suggest a standard where the image would appear as a single 2D rectilinear image on 2D displays and as a 3D image when using a headset.

“If you watch a google vr180 now, it can be rotated even without going to cardboard mode.” That has always been the case. What VR180 does is show a corrected (non-fisheye) picture in 2D that can be rotated, while it shows a stereo pair in cardboard mode. There is no change there. The change that I have seen is that YouTube no longer removes the 3D version when watching a VR180 clip on a computer monitor, which in my view is correcting a wrong.

I disagree that Google has abandoned VR180. In the last 8 months, it released the VR180 Creator software and a dedicated YouTube VR app for the Oculus Go. Facebook, owner of Oculus is at least on a par with Google in pushing its own ‘180 3D’.

I think the important point here is that camera manufacturers have forged ahead with 3D 180 projects without waiting for Google to gets its act together.

Last year, there was a very definite sense that everything rested on Google’s shoulders and that if they dropped their VR180 standard, the future of 3D 180 cameras was doomed. But in fact, the opposite has happened. Camera manufacturers have moved ahead and have left Google behind.

In terms of ergonomics you’re absolutely right Vuze XR looks and should feel better. But I’m not sure when that software will arrive. As I know the only company that releases firmware updates often is Insta360. The only concern for me is image quality, so for know EVO looks is slightly better.

One thing i would like to know more about is the quality of the photos from the 180 stereo cameras. In my option AR/VR is the future. They will replace our monitors, TV screens, phones etc.. It might take 20 years but it will happen. So the real reason I am looking at these cameras is to capture my children in 3D as the grow up. So in the future it wont be like looking at Polaroids of my past. Can you break these cameras down by the quality of their 3D 180 photos? I wouldn’t be surprise for them to match some of pro stereo 360 camera out there now since you are using 2 5.7k cameras across a smaller FOV

One thing i would like to know more about is the quality of the photos from the 180 stereo cameras. In my option AR/VR is the future. They will replace our monitors, TV screens, phones etc.. It might take 20 years but it will happen. So the real reason I am looking at these cameras is to capture my children in 3D as the grow up. So in the future it wont be like looking at Polaroids of my past. Can you break these cameras down by the quality of their 3D 180 photos? I wouldn’t be surprise for them to match some of pro stereo 360 camera out there now since you are using 2 5.7k cameras across a smaller FOV

Hi Peteo. Yes i will post comparison photos. Btw i have the same purpose to capture my kids in 3d. And like you i am a photographer but i believe video is the best way to preserve memories, so these days ive been using more video than photo

Great. Looking forward to the photos. I think they will look better on higher Res HMD’s than video will. Can’t wait until 8k/16k Stereo 360 cameras are cheaper. For now these will have to do, kids are not getting any younger!